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Baltimore, MD vs Grand Rapids, MI

Moving from Baltimore to Grand Rapids? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($405,877 → $359,923 median home) and taxes.

Baltimore vs Grand Rapids at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Baltimore, MD Grand Rapids, MI Cost-of-living index Baltimore, MD — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Grand Rapids, MI — Cost-of-living index: 95 95 Median home price Baltimore, MD — Median home price: $406k $406k Grand Rapids, MI — Median home price: $360k $360k Price per sqft Baltimore, MD — Price per sqft: $214 $214 Grand Rapids, MI — Price per sqft: $218 $218 Median rent Baltimore, MD — Median rent: $1,919 $1,919 Grand Rapids, MI — Median rent: $1,623 $1,623 Combined sales tax Baltimore, MD — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Grand Rapids, MI — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Property tax rate Baltimore, MD — Property tax rate: 1.04% 1.04% Grand Rapids, MI — Property tax rate: 1.16% 1.16% Violent crime /100k Baltimore, MD — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Grand Rapids, MI — Violent crime /100k: 460 460 Electricity ¢/kWh Baltimore, MD — Electricity ¢/kWh: 22.1 22.1 Grand Rapids, MI — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.4 21.4 Avg commute (min) Baltimore, MD — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Grand Rapids, MI — Avg commute (min): 22 22 Avg summer high °F Baltimore, MD — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Grand Rapids, MI — Avg summer high °F: 83° 83° Avg winter low °F Baltimore, MD — Avg winter low °F: 27° 27° Grand Rapids, MI — Avg winter low °F: 16° 16°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Baltimore, MD, you'd need about $92,044 in Grand Rapids, MI (−$7,956).

Livability — Baltimore, MD: 57 · Grand Rapids, MI: 63 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,341 sqft in Baltimore vs 2,293 sqft in Grand Rapids ($214 vs $218 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBaltimore, MDGrand Rapids, MIDifference
Housing $23,028 $19,476 −$3,552
Groceries $5,075 $4,703 −$372
Transportation $3,685 $4,575 +$890
Utilities $2,388 $2,316 −$72
Insurance $1,400 $1,300 −$100
Taxes $11,584 $9,139 −$2,445
Total $47,160 $41,509 −$5,651

Side by side

MetricBaltimore, MDGrand Rapids, MI
Cost-of-living index103.295.0
Unemployment rate4.86%4.32%
Population growth (5-yr)1.7%4.6%
Air quality (median AQI)4751
Big Mac price (est.)$5.87$5.40
Median home price$405,877$359,923
Home price ÷ income4.3×4.7×
1-yr home appreciation0.8%4.8%
Price per square foot$214$218
Median rent$1,919$1,623
Total tax burden (% income)11.3%10.0%
Combined sales tax6.00%6.00%
Capital gains tax5.75%4.25%
Property tax rate1.04%1.16%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$6,500
Childcare (annual, infant)$16,000$11,000
Vehicle property taxNone0.61%
Avg commute (min)3022
Home insurance / yr$1,400$1,300
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$2,700
Flood insurance / yr$750$600
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh22.121.4
Gas $/gal3.303.35
Violent crime /100k450460
Avg summer high °F8883
Avg winter low °F2716
Permit difficulty (1–5)43
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